Quick-change brush means



Feb. 7, 1961 l.. E. JONES 2,970,333

- QUICK-CHANGE BRUSH MEANS Filed Aug. 18, 1955 QUICK-CHANGE BRUSH-lVIEANS Lloyd E. Jones, Arcadia, Calif., assgnor to Industrial BrushCompany, Arcadia, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Ang. 18,1955, Ser.;No. '529,277

12 claims. (ci. is-1ss) This invention frelates to .industrial brushesand, more particularly, to lbrushes utilized to clean :external vwallsand roofs of vehicles :such as :railway cars, buses, Vand rthe likewhich 'areslowly moved past acleaning and washing station. A

Exterior wall surfaces 'of vehiclestinclndemanyjrregw laritiesprincipally caused lay-windows, zdoors,:other=open ings, and theflikefSu'ch exteriorfirregularities cause unfeven wear along the1len'gth1fofbrush :means @position-ed zat :a cleaning station. Obviously',ffor.thorough icleaning worn brush portions 'mustrb'e promptly replaced iandfor this Vpurpose such brushm'e'ans aremadein longitudinally -disposedbrush .sections fof #selected 'length nnounted on ia `suitable .drivingshaft. I:Heretofore 4suoli brush @sections rwere lusually removed 'bydisassembling :the :entire fbrush means from the brushdriving .rmeans:and support-therefor, the .worn -brush sections `being .fslippedendwise off Ithe shaft. .Afnew brush sectioniwas'then'substitutediandfthe several Ybrush 'sections assembled fand-connected Vto the drivingshaft. n

Sometimes .a worn :brush fsection iwas reconditioned :by

`removingworn brush 'strips lfrom a fcylindricalmemberfholdingthebrushstrips. iEach brush'strip ,wastusually -uushedlengthwise fout o'f`longitudinallyl disposed gripping `means' for thestrip. :Since `the cylindric'al .member was Voften :made of 4wood or`plastic material, the tbrush strip 'gripping fmeans :formed .'there'on'were 'brok'en' for scarred so that when ,a new brush tstrip was:installed therein, difculty was .encountered :in properly positioning`and in holding the brush fstrip during operation.' Generally, suchrehabilitation ofworn brushsectionswasextremely difficult, tedious, andcostly in terms f'of flabor Afand .the `resulting product. This`invention contemplates 'a :quick-change :industrial brush :meansvwherein 'worn -portions or 'sections may be readily ireplaced'withoutdisassemblingthe brshmeans from its 'supporting `carrier-or 'drivingmeans fand without slipping wornbrush-sections over the endofanJassociated 'driving 'shaft during disassembly. A brush :meansv'embodying this inventionperniits Y.the worn brush sections thereof tobe laterally separable ffrom the driving shaft, thereby facilitating and.saving v'considerable time lwith respect to vreplacement ofA:intermediate -worn 'brush sections. The invention contemplates Vtheconstruction-of a brush means which -is adaptedto be utilized on shaftmeans on which prior proposed "brush means have been installed and'toreplacesuchrpriorproposedbrush means. lt is, therefore, theprimary'object of this invention 'to disclose .and lprovide Aaquick-change brush means jfor use incleaning-exterior wall sufacesofvehicles and embodying a novel assemblyof brush holdingmeans.

An object kof .this .invention `is to disclose `and provide a vehiclebrush meansV wherein 4brush.holdingsegments provided thereon arelongitudinally positioned with respectto each other andlaterally-selectively andindependently'separable from theb'rush means.

. Another object :of this `invention is Lto .discloses and .pro-v 2 videan industrial brush means which'is inexpensive to manufacture and is ofsimple, eflicient construction.

A further object of this invention :is `to disclose and provide Aa`brush means wherein novel support or collar means'fare selectivelylongitudinallywspaced along a shaft for longitudinally positioning'laterally removable brush holding segments.

'Still another object'of this inventionfis to disclose vand provide anindustrial'brush means wherein-a shaft means carries brush strip holdingmeans laterally and longitudinally yseparable and wherein locking meansare provided for holding said brush strip holding means in 'assembly onsaid shaft means.V

Generally speaking, this yinvention contemplates an industrial brushmeans `comprising an elongated yshaft carrying thereon :a'plurality o'fselectively longitudinally spaced supporter collar'members-invaccordance with the length of brushstrip fholding means tobearrangedand supported thereon. Each'brus'hstripholding means may comprise aplurality .of :part-cylindrical brush holding segments which,wheniassembledyencircle said-shaft land which Aare Ylongitudinallypositioned ahy 'means on said collar members. Each part-cylindricalbrushholding segment includes longitudinally extending pairs Yof brush stripretaining ribs. "Certain of said ribs provide engage- -ment means'cooperable wwith a locking "means for removably securing 'andkholding-'brushtsegments supported by each collar .in assemblytherewith-and in such amanner that brush v:segments may bereadilyremoved or installed 'by Ylateral movement :of `the brush segmentWithtrespecjt :to the collar and shaft, 'thereby permittingV rapidreplacement of intermediate brush 'strip fholding'means V:when

worn." i f @ther fobjects and yadvantages :ofthis invention zwill bereadily vapparent from the followingfdescription fof-the drawings inwhich an Vexemplarly l'embodiment iof r'this invention .is shown.

ln the drawings:

Fig. K lv is a fragmentary fside viewf'df atbrush-tme'ans embodying thisinvention, a portion of fthebrus'h bein broken away land shown infsection.

Fig. .2 is atop viewlofthe Jbrushsnreans shownlin Fig. 1, the' viewbeingtaken in "the ILp'lane indicated Eby lline II-:IIof Pig. 111. f f

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary fside fview, rpartlyfin .'sect'ion, ofasupportorfcollar means shownrin Fig. i1, /thesection being ltaken inthe .plane indicated 'by line Ill-IIIfof Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is 'a'transverses'ectional 'viewrthrough thefsupportmean'staken'in the 'planes indicated by flines INT-IV of'FigLB. .y .-'1

An industrial 'bru'sh means embodying 'this invention', generallyindicated `at .10, Vvis only fragmentarily fshown and may comprise brush`portions :11 fand .'llaof 'selected different lengthlandsometimesfofdiiferent .outer .diameter depending upon the exterior configuration4offthe lvehicle to be cleaned by lsaid brushes. Usually vthere may 'bemore than two brush portions, the length of each brush portion beingdetermined Aby -the lcharacter-of the surface tobe'cleaned. VA`surfacehaving aflarge-.numberof-irregularities Awill .generally becontacted b y -a .brush tportion of relatively short vlength whichis-subjected to wear more rapidly than other brush'portions and whichmaybe readily replaced. Since the various'brush portions forming brushmeans 10 involve the same vfeatures of this invention, only brushVportions 11 and Ila'havebeen ,illustrated for the purpose of brevity. l

vThe brush means 10 includes'a longitudinally extending shaft 13 ofselected length and diameter to carry lbrush portions 1-1 and 11a. Theklshaft '-13 lis 4Aadapted-toibo rotated by any suitable well known.drive lm'eans f'(not shown).v :Shaft 513 includes .a longitudinally"extending Patented Feb. 7, 1961 l 3 keyway 14 adapted toreceive a key 15for locking brush means to the shaft for rotation therewith.

Means for supporting brush portions 11 and 11a on shaft 13 may include aplurality of longitudinally spaced support or collar members 17, saidsupport members being spaced apart from center to center the approximatelength of a longitudinally disposed brush strip holding means generallyindicated at 18. The support w member 17 may be of split collar typeincluding a pair of semi-circular collar elements 19, said elements 19being clamped about shaft 13 by a pair of diametrically oppositesecuring nut and bolt assemblies 20. The nut and bolt assemblies 20extend through aligned flanged portions 21 formed by recesses 22 coredout of the collar elements 19 between end faces thereof. The securingbolts and nuts 20 lie in recesses 22 within the circumference of supportmember 17.

Each collar element 19 includes a keyway 23, one of said keyways 23 of apair of collar elements 19 being adapted to receive key for locking thesupport member 17 on shaft 13 for rotation therewith. Support members 17may be readily longitudinally adjusted and positioned on shaft 13 byloosening bolt and nut assemblies and sliding support members 17 alongthe shaft into selected spaced positions and then tightening bolt andnut assemblies 20..

Each support member 17, when assembled and secured about shaft 13,includes a generally cylindrical exterior surface 25. Cylindricalsurface 25 includes diametrically opposite recessed face portions 26 anddiametrically opposite bearing face portions 27, said bearing portions27 lying centrally of the semi-cylindrical surface of each collarelement 19 and with the face portions 26 extending therefrom. Thebearing face portions 27 provide seats for brush strip holding segments29 forming the brush strip holding means 18. Brush strip holdingsegments 29 are generally semi-cylindrical and hollow, the recessed faceportions 26 providing clearance for irregularities in curvature andwidth of said segments and to permit drawing of said segments intotight, snug relation with the support members as further'describedhereinafter.

Each collar element 19 may also include a pair of outwardly projectinglugs 30 formed at extremities` of bearing face portions 27 and centrallyof the collar element, said lugs 30 serving to longitudinally positionbrush holding segments 29 by abutment of ends of said segmentsthereagainst and to limit longitudinal play thereof.

thicker section rib providing at opposite ends lock engagement means.

Means to removably lock semi-cylindrical brush holding segments 29 ateach end to support members 17 includes a locking member 38 positionedexterior of bearing face portions 27 of each-collar element 19. Eachlocking member 38 may be secured to collar element 19 as by `a recessedset screw bolt 39 which extends into a threaded bore 40 in collarelement 19. Locking member 33 may be of rectangular curved configurationto correspond with the curvature of the cylindrical brush holding means18. Each locking member 38 includes outer inwardly directed, spaced lockengagement portions 41 and an intermediate inwardly extending portion42. Lock engagement portions 41 may be provided with Wedge faces 43 and44 adapted to be received within and to correspond to opposed faces onends of adjacent pairs of retaining ribs 32. Intermediate portion 42extends between ultimate or edge retaining ribs 32 of assembledsemi-cylindrical segments 29 and serves to properly, circularly spacesaid segments 29. The portions 41 and 42 define parallel recesses 45adapted to l receive edge pairs of retaining ribs 32.

'Y engagement means on said segments.

The brush strip holding means 18 is positioned on and between the spacedsupport means 17 and encircles shaft 13. Each brush strip holding means18 includes the pair of semi-cylindrical hollow brush holding segments29, said brush segments 29 having longitudinal internal surface areas ateach end adapted to seat on said bearing face portions 27. Each brushholding segment 29 is made preferably by extruding asuitable'lightweight metal alloy such as aluminum. The brush segments 29carry on their exterior face a plurality of longitudinally extendingspaced converging pairs of external retaining ribs 32. Ribs 32 stiffenthe semi-cylindrical hollow segments 29 so that relatively long segmentsare substantially rigid.

Each pair of retaining ribs 32 is adapted to longitudinally receivetherein, as by endwise insertion, a brush strip 33 which may include agenerally U-secton elongated metal holder 35 Within which is receivedand securedV a plurality of bristles 34 in well known manner. Bristles34 may be made of any suitable material and may project from brushsegments 29 a selected distance. The brush strips 33 are secured in saidpairs of retaining ribs 32 by pinching ends of said ribs, saidconverging ribs serving to retain the brush strips intermediate theirlength. It should be noted that the penultimate rib adjacent eachlongitudinal edge of brush holding segment 29 is of slightly thickerrmetal section as at 36, said In assembly of a brush means describedabove, support member 17 may be first secured to shaft 13 in selectedspaced relationship to accommodate the brush portions 11 and 11a ofpreselected length. The brush means 18 may then be positioned about theshaft 13 by placing each brush holding segment 29 laterally against thesupport member 17 and between and against longitudinal positioning lugs30. The semi-cylindrical elements 29 may then be secured in position bylocking members 38 which extend over adjacent corner portions ofadjacent cylindrical segments, the lock engagement means on saidsegments beingy engaged in wedge relation with locking portions 41 ofthe locking member. Tightening of the set screw bolt 39 on each lockingmember 38 secures the brush means 18 to the support means 17 and therebyto shaft 13.

When a brush portion 11, for example, becomes worn, it will be readilyapparent that brush means 18 forming said portion may be readily removedand replaced by releasing the set screw bolt 39 from each locking member38 which engages brush means 18, laterally withdrawing the cylindricalbrush holding segments 29 from support means 17 and then replacing saidworn segments with new segments. It will be apparent that in thisoperation adjacent brush portion 11a is retained on the shaft inassembled relation therewith. Those skilled in the art will readilyunderstand that removal and replacement of a brush portion on a brushmeans which utilizes this invention may be quickly and rapidly madesince only worn brush portions are handled.

The brush holding segments 29 of extruded lightweight metal alloy are ofsuch low cost that they may be thrown away when the brush strips carriedthereby are worn. However, if it is desired to replace brush strips 33,spreading apart the pinched ends of the retaining ribs 32 will permitrelatively easy extraction of the brush strip held thereby. Since theextruded ribs are relatively smooth, a new brush strip can be readilyinserted if desired.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a quick-changebrush means has been provided which reduces to a minimum the time andlabor required to recondition or rebuild a worn brush means. Under prior{proposed-brush constructions, a day 'Jor "more rwasnecesfsary to repaira worn brush. Under-the brush-:construc- ,ftion described above, awornportionmay be vreplaoedin .rless than 1an hour. v

All changes and `modifications in Ythe brush means described abovecoming within'the scope of the appended claims, are :embraced thereby.

1. .Inf arquick-changebrush rmeans, sthercombination of: 'a.'shaftfadapted .to .be rotated; .support means :on asaid shaftinlongitudinalspaced relation; .1a zpluralityof lbrush strip holding meanssupported in longitudinal, slightly spaced, end to end relation by saidsupport means and encircling said shaft, each brush strip holding meanscomprising a plurality of brush holding segments of curved transversesection arranged in adjacent lateral relation to form a cylinder, eachsegment being provided with a plurality of longitudinally extendingparallel external ribs for retaining a brush strip therein; and means toreleasably lock longitudinally and laterally adjacent holding segmentsto said support means and tolongitudinally align said ribs comprisinglock engagement means on each seg- `ment in adjacent relation to lockengagement means on an adjacent segment, and an external locking memberprovided with engagement means cooperable with each of said adjacentlock engagement means on longitudinally and laterally adjacent holdingsegments.

2. A quick-change brush means as stated in claim l wherein said lockingmember includes a body portion overlying portions of longitudinally andlaterally adjacent segments and wherein the engagement means on saidexternal locking member and the engagament means on said holdingsegments include wedge surfaces for drawing laterally adjacent segmentstoward each other.

3. In a quick-change brush means; the combination of: a shaft; spacedsupport means on said shaft, each support means including an externalsurface; a plurality of brush support holders in cylindrical arrangementabout said shaft and having end faces seated on said external surfaces,each holder including a longitudinally extending wall arcuate in sectionand provided with a plurality of Ilaterally spaced externallongitudinally extending ribs cooperable to retain a plurality of brushstrips; and means to removably lock in assembly laterally adjacentholders including lock engagement means provided on ends of certain ofsaid ribs, and an external locking member overlying and extending acrossportions of adjacent holders and having radially inwardly directed wedgelock engagement portions cooperable with said lock engagement means.

4. In a quick-change brush means, the combination of: a shaft; supportmeans fixed to said shaft in longitudinal spaced relation, each supportmeans including an external cylindrical surface; a plurality oflongitudinally disposed brush strip holding means positioned on saidsupport means in end-to-end relation, each holding means encircling saidshaft and including a pair of semi-cylindrical segments having internalsemi-cylindrical end surfacesmfor seating on a portion of the externalcylindrical surface on said support means, each segment being providedwith longitudinally extending parallel external retaining ribs for brushstrips, certain of said retaining ribs providing lock-engagement means;and means to removably lock adjacent ends of said semi-cylindrical brushsegments to each support means, said locking means including a lockingmember overlying said adjacent ends of said segments 'and provided withlock-engagement portions cooperable with the lock-engagement means oncertain of said external ribs.

5. A brush means as stated in claim 4 wherein the said lock-engagementportions and said lock-engagement means on said ribs include cooperablewedge faces. l

6. A brush means as stated in claim 4 wherein saidvsupport meansincludes a positioning lug on said external surffaceto .longitudinallyposition .eachf segmentbetween lsaid support means.

f7. ,Abrushfholding segment 'for use withzone or more .laterallyIadjacent corresponding -brush .holding segments to :form brushstripholding means for a-plurality of brush :strip e. elements `andsecurement means vfor :said segment, .said segment comprising anextruded-wall of arcuate transverse cross section providing an externalconvex surface, a-,pluralityof.longitudinallyextending continuousparallel ribs longitudinally coextensive and integral with the said Walland projecting outwardly from said convex surface, said paralleli-ribsproviding continuous Ilongitudinally extending recesses.adapted-toereceivebrush strip elements, said wall havinginternalconcave surfaces adapted to seat vv'on fsupportrneans -for said-segment,"and certain tof `said ribs adjacent longitudinal edges of saidwall having wedge surface portions adapted to cooper-ate with saidsecurement means for said segment. p

8. In an industrial brush means, the combination of: a shaft means; aplurality of longitudinally disposed brush holding means in end to endrelation and of selected length positioned along said shaft means; eachof said brush holding means including atleast two laterally adjacentbrush holding segments, each segment having an external convex surfaceand having end locking portions; and a lock member at adjacent endportions of laterally and longitudinally adjacent brush holding segmentsand extending over said adjacent end portions, said lock member havingradially inwardly directed wedge means cooperable with the end lockingportions of said segments whereby a selected segment may be laterallyseparated from said shaft means without disassembly of longitudi nallyadjacent segments.

y9. In a quick-change brush means, the combination of: a sh-aft havingan axis of rotation; a plurality of collar means fixed to the shaft inlongitudinal spaced relation, each collar means providing externaluninterrupted cylindrical surface portions; a plurality oflongitudinally aligned elongated segments of arcuate transversecrosssection land havin-g means to hold brush strips and arrangedcircumaxially about said axis of rotation, longitudinally alignedsegments being in end to end relation with ends longitudinally adjacent,each segment having end surfaces seated on said surface portions ofadjacent elements and `a securement member comprising: an extruded wallof arcuate transverse cross-section providing an external convexsurface, a plurality of longitudinally extending continuous parallelribs integral with said wall, projecting outwardly -from said convexsurface, and extending for the length of said wall, said plurality ofribs including at least two ribs at each longitudinal edge of said wall,said parallel ribs providing continuous longitudinally extendingrecesses adapted to receive brush strip elements, said wall havinginternal concave surfaces adapted to seat on support means for saidsegment, said two ribs at each longitudinal edge of said wall having endportions with wedge surfaces adapted to cooperate with said securementmember.

12. A brush holding segment for use with one or more laterally adjacentcorresponding brush holding segments to for-m brush strip holding meansfor a plurality of brush strip elements and a securement member for saidsegment, said segment comprising an extruded wall of arcuate transversecross-section providing an external convex surf'e'efa pluralityof'longitudinally extending continuous parallel ribs longitudinallycoextensive vand integral with 'the' said wall and projecting outwardlyfrom said ronvex surface, said parallel ribs providing continuous longi-"tudinally extending recesses adapted to receive brush strip elements,said wall having internal concave surfaces adapted to seat on supportmeans for said segment, and certain of said ribs on said wall havingwedge surface Vportions adapted to cooperate with said securement memberfor said segment.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,953':lo ,e 11,094,079

Baker Jan.20,1s91 ,i

8 A A v Collins l .f. Sept.r4', Anderson ef June 1, Sawyer i-; Mar'.30,Blydenburgh Oct. 25,

. FOREIGN PATENTSl A Great Britain Sept; 13, Great Britain Oct.Y 5,Great Britain Aug. 15, FranceA Dec. 1,

France Dec.. 29,

